Understanding the ruling on lottery winnings in Islam is crucial in today’s society, where many governments and organisations promote games of chance under the guise of funding public works. People are often confused when a lottery claims that its proceeds support charities or indigent populations, wondering if this philanthropic aspect changes the religious prohibition.
The Ruling on Charitable Lotteries
Prominent scholars state that it is strictly forbidden (haram) to issue a lottery or to participate by purchasing tickets. The argument that a lottery is tolerable because a portion of the proceeds goes to charity does not alter this ruling. In fact, the charitable lottery is the precise form of gambling that was common among the pagan Arabs at the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) when the prohibition was revealed.
Almighty Allah states:
O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone altars [to other than Allah], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful” (Surah Al-Ma’idah, 5:90).
The charitable destination of the funds has no bearing on this fundamental prohibition.
The Principle of Wealth Transfer
The prohibition of such games focuses on a core economic principle in Islamic jurisprudence: wealth cannot be transferred from some individuals to others based purely on chance. A person cannot acquire another’s wealth through mechanisms such as the flip of a coin or the run of a number roller, even if a portion of the funds is used for charitable causes as an attraction. What makes the practice prohibited is the illicit nature of the transfer when tickets are sold and purchased.
The Exception for Free Business Promotions
Islamic jurisprudence makes a clear distinction regarding business promotions. If a commercial enterprise distributes gifts or promotional items using a random draw or a similar method, this is permissible, provided that individuals do not have to purchase a ticket or pay money to enter. The prohibition applies strictly to scenarios where participants risk their own wealth for a chance to win.
Disposing of Illicit Wealth
When an individual wins money from a standard lottery where tickets are purchased, those funds are considered illicit (haram). A Muslim cannot keep or personally benefit from such wealth. Instead, the money must be entirely handed over to Muslim charities for distribution among the poor and the needy, solely to dispose of the unlawful funds.
